Mindanao COVID-19 cases outpacing NCR+ – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported more regions nationwide posting a marked increase in COVID cases, with Mindanao outpacing the National Capital Region.

Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the Epidemiology Bureau said 12 regions have recorded higher rates of transmission as well as an increase in the average daily attack rate (ADAR) in the past week.

“What we saw and started to plug – the rising cases last week – became more evident nationally, in NCR and across all the island groups,” De Guzman said in a virtual briefing.

“Secondly, we also saw what we discussed as the speed of transmission… the Mindanao cases as a whole are higher than the number of cases we are seeing now in the rest of Luzon and even in the National Capital Region,” she added.

Although cases are not as high as in previous surges, De Guzman said all of Mindanao recorded a faster increase in cases.

Regions with positive growth rate are Zamboanga peninsula, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, Ilocos, Davao, Central Visayas, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Luzon outside NCR recorded a marked increase in cases but those of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and Central Luzon have dropped.

However, De Guzman said the DOH continues to monitor the two regions because its ADAR is nearing “high risk” level.

“We first detected the spike in cases in Mindanao while it was going down in NCR. But now NCR is also catching up but not as quick as other areas,” she pointed out.

Visayas regions also recorded a continuing increase in cases – Western Visayas at a faster rate than Central and Eastern Visayas.

From the previous 5,214 cases, De Guzman said the daily average cases nationwide rose to 6,691 – the highest daily average recorded over the month of May.

But she said the number is still lower than the daily average of 7,500 recorded in the last week of April till early May.

Average daily cases are higher in the first days of June compared to the start of May.

The DOH has also observed a slight increase in the national positivity rate from 12.6 percent to 12.7 percent within the past fortnight, which the official said was not alarming but signaled a higher rate of those testing positive in PCR test.

The existence of variants of concern contributed to increase of COVID cases in Zamboanga peninsula, among other factors.

De Guzman said the increase in cases cannot be attributed to the easing of restrictions, but rather non-adherence to minimum health protocol.

“The core of it really is adhering and compliance to the minimum health standards,” she stressed while pointing to confidence brought about by vaccination as another factor.

“When one is vaccinated you feel good, you feel protection. But the vaccines are there to protect us from becoming severe and critical,” De Guzman explained.

Despite the increase in cases, De Guzman said active cases have remained at less than five percent of total cases.

She said the DOH is closely monitoring the slight increase in number of severe and critical cases from the usual two percent to below four percent.

The fatality ratio went down and currently stands at about 1.7 percent.

Day’s log: 7,217 new cases

On Thursday the DOH logged 7,217 additional cases, bringing to 1,247,899 the total number of confirmed COVID cases nationwide.

Of the total cases, 93.8 percent or 1,170,752 have recuperated from the infection, including 3,483 new recoveries.

Active cases stand at 4.5 percent or 55,790 of total cases.

The number of COVID-related deaths rose to 21,357 with the inclusion of 199 more deaths. Fatalities account for 1.71 percent of total confirmed COVID cases.

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded the public to complete their second dose of COVID-19 vaccines as scheduled.

But it clarified that only nine percent or 113,000 of vaccinated individuals have deferred their second dose.

The DOH explained that previous data were sourced from independent assessment by health experts and may differ from actual numbers on the ground.

“The reported missed schedules for second dose are estimates and based on certain assumptions,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a statement.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque assured those who missed their scheduled second dose that they can still get fully vaccinated.